The phasing lizard’s at was far inferior to what I’d previously eaten in the dungeon. In fact, it was quite repulsive, but I kept eating nonetheless, knowing a permanent enhancent would far outweigh the temporary discomfort. I kept munching the disgusting, dry, and tough at until a ssage showed up.
Devour (Evolving) effect activated.
Enhancent: Spines is available.
Spines unlocks the following skills:
Retractable Spines (Level 1)
Needle Spines (Level 1)
Spell Synthesis Compatible.
Allows Spines to be upgraded to Toxic Spines.
I promptly stopped to stare at the text before . I’d seen a similar ssage when the amphibian tongue enhancent beca available, but this ti there was sothing extra. Sothing about skill synthesis compatibility.
“Tell
that you stopped because your blessing showed up,” Cellestra said.
“Yes. I have a new skill available. It looks like it’s similar to this creature’s spikes.”
After I said that, I looked into the enhancent’s effects with my spider brain as I continued talking to Cellestra.
“That sounds… interesting,” Cellestra said as she looked at the dead phasing lizard.
Spines
Does nothing by itself. This enhancent is necessary to acquire the following skills.
Retractable Spines (Level 1)
Needle Spines (Level 1)
Retractable Spines (Level 1)
Grows spines on legs and abdon. Can be retracted and extended at will.
Needle Spines (Level 1)
Allows spines to be shot.
Toxin Spines (Level 1)
Allows spines to be filled with venom. The venom is injected into any targets hit.
“This is far more than just interesting,” I said. “This looks amazing.”
“That good?” Cellestra asked.
“For sure. Hold on,” I started as I thought of sothing. I’d love to take this enhancent to try it out and see if it was any use for what we’d face next. The thing was, I didn’t know where these spikes would appear on my body, and I’d very much like to not injure Cellestra.
“Would you mind stepping off for a bit?” I asked.
“Sure, but I’ll take that break then, if you don’t mind.”
“Take all the ti you need. I’m not in a hurry. Wouldn’t be a good idea to hurry through danger, either.”
Cellestra stepped off my back and put down her backpack to pull out her canteen.
“Mind filling this for
first?” She asked.
I grinned as I filled it with fresh, cold water while I looked through my list of enhancents.
Enhancent
Cost in EP
Spawn Spiderlings
200
Spiderling Upgrade - Basic Exoskeleton
100
Spiderling Upgrade - Basic Resistance
100
Spiderling Upgrade - Basic Venom
100
Amphibian Tongue
50
Tongue Slingshot (Level 1)
10
Spines
Retractable Spines (Level 1)
200
Needle Spines (Level 1)
200
It was interesting to see that the base enhancent didn’t cost anything. It was, however, overshadowed by the fact that the other two cost a small fortune. Still, I had a good amount stocked up, so I wasn’t going to be frugal about it.
I confird to enhance the spines and retractable spines, and felt information fill my brains about where they could appear, how strong they would be, and their properties. I found that I could alter them slightly to suit my wishes. For example, I could have them colored the way I wanted. In my case, I’d obviously make them white. Not only would it look better on
stylistically, but it would also help to hide them from a distance.
I could also change where, and the angle at which they protruded from my body, which I used to cover so of my weaknesses. For example, I had a horrible ti aiming at sothing directly behind . Thanks to this skill, combined with needle spines, I could grow spines on my abdon that could shoot backward, making up, at least partially, for one of my weaknesses.
“This is great…” I mumbled absent-mindedly, as I was thinking and analyzing where I’d grow the spines.
After processing this new information, I selected the needle spines, which also triggered my spell synthesis, forcing more details to enter my mind. I could fill the grown spikes with venom pre-emptively, so I could have my reserves replenish, and, practically, give
larger reserves before battle.
Cellestra giggled as she munched on an apple, her helt next to her in the grass. In the anti, I was still figuring out where I’d grow those supposed spikes.
From digging through the available info, I could make out that they would be just as tough as my already existing armor, so in theory, I could use them as weapons. I decided to grow them at the sides of my legs, facing outward, so they would offer protection against anything that would lunge at
from the sides. If I was fast, I could also shoot the spines to my sides that way to ensure enemies would be hurt, or worse, before they even got close. A deadly surprise attack, that was for sure.
I seed to be limited to one spike per leg, which was unfortunate as I would have preferred more, but I couldn’t complain. At last, I’d got sothing that could be used offensively. There was no denying I was quite happy with it.
And so I activated the skill to grow the spines, one on each leg, on the second to last segnt. I figured I’d have an easier ti aiming if I grew them there compared to the very last segnt.
White spikes erupted from my chitin, growing in a matter of seconds, filled with lethal venom. The ones on my abdon were long, but thin enough to not stand out from my long hairs. I hoped that making them elongated would give them greater piercing power.
“By the goddess, Kealyna,” Cellestra called out between bites. “That does look great.”
“I know right,” I replied as I watched Selleron stare with great interest at my new additions.
I suppose he would have found out about this sooner or later anyway, so I didn’t care too much. I simply shrugged it off and summoned so water to wash away the awful taste in my lower mouth. At least it had been more than worth it.
“Yuck,” I let out as the last of foulness was washed away. “Glad that part is over.”
“You didn’t seem to be all too happy with your… lunch.”
“Happens, I guess. These spikes are great, though. They are filled with my venom, and I can shoot them.”
“That’s,” Cellestra said and paused. “Wow.” She was stunned, and rightfully so.
She finished her apple and held up the core.
“Want it?” She asked.
“Sure,” I said as I took it and fed it to my lower mouth. “Thanks.”
The remains of the fruit, even though there was little left, were delicious. It made
hope that whatever awaited us would be tastier.
We waited for a few more minutes, before Cellestra placed her helm back on her head, and stepped back on.
“Let’s continue when you’re ready,” She said.
I nodded. “I am ready.” I turned to address Selleron. “Where to?”
“Straight ahead,” He said, gesturing a hand forward.
I walked forward keeping close track of my surroundings. I didn’t want to be surprised again.
There wasn’t much to see, except for a trio of large trees, which made
wonder. What was the the of this floor? Was it magic? Was it hidden enemies? I ca to a halt as I took a closer look at the trees. It wouldn’t be the first ti I’d be suddenly assaulted by oversized flora…
I was almost confident that these trees either housed beings, or they were creatures themselves. To find out from a safe distance, I fired an ice lance at one of them.
The icicle shattered, but not on bark. Rather, it was splintered by sothing resembling a barrier. It was then that my suspicions got a confirmation.
Tremors hit the ground and movent occurred at the base of the trunks. Tendrils contracted and appeared as they were uprooted. The trees moved and, after a short delay, removed themselves from the soil as they were carried by their massive roots.
“Well,” I said. “I’ve seen this before.”
“At the dungeon entrance,” Cellestra said.
“Yup, and it appears they have the sa kind of magic resistance as that one, which ans…”
I launched a fireball at one of the now walking trees to see the sa thing happen that happened to the ice lance. It was impossible to set this wood afla while the barrier was in effect.
“I wonder if they have the sa kind of weakness as that one. The tree at the dungeon entrance had an orb at the bottom of its trunk, between the roots. Once I shattered that, the barrier vanished and I was able to set it ablaze.”
“Earthen spike?” Cellestra asked. She sounded excited to have an opportunity to use spells again.
“Earthen spike,” I said in confirmation.
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